"While the idea has merit, there's a drawback," Elijah said. He went on, "For a new prince to ascend, we need the king's approval and officials' testimony. Without it, convincing people is challenging."He added, "Also, obtaining the king's consent and officials' testimony would take at least three days. In our current situation, we simply can't afford to wait that long.""Really? Is it that complicated for a new prince to ascend?" Wyatt frowned. He added, "Everyone knows Austin is Prince Rufus' son. It should be a natural choice for him to become the next Prince of West Lucozia.""Yeah! They say desperate times call for desperate measures," Tyrus chimed in."Do you two think ascending the throne is like choosing a mountain king? Just planting a flag, having a few drinks, and saying some bold words will get the job done? Don't be ridiculous!" Elijah said, somewhat exasperated. He went on, "The position of Prince of West Lucozia is not just about the people of West Lucozia. It
Jaxon's announcement immediately captured the attention of everyone present. Eloise hesitated for a moment, opening her mouth as if she wanted to say something.After all, he was the captain of the royal guards and someone she trusted. Hence, she didn't want to see him risking his life in this situation. However, given the circumstances, there didn't seem to be a more suitable candidate."General Steele's strength is unquestionable, and his loyalty is unwavering. There's indeed a chance of successfully assassinating Julius with him." Wyatt nodded. As the captain of the royal guards, Jaxon's strength was beyond doubt, and his loyalty was unwavering."General Steele, I don't mean to underestimate you, but relying solely on you might not be enough," Elijah suddenly said."Wait! What about that legendary Executioner?" Tyrus asked suddenly. He added, "The name Executioner is famous far and wide. In terms of strength, he should be no less than General Steele, right?""No, Sir Albe
"No way! This is too risky!"Upon witnessing Dustin's inclination for a dangerous undertaking, Austin swiftly stepped in to stop his brother. Austin acknowledged Dustin's formidable strength, but Julius had gathered a considerable number of skilled individuals. Facing multiple challenges or opponents was always challenging. If the assassination failed, Dustin could find himself surrounded by those formidable adversaries. As the prospective Prince of West Lucozia, Austin couldn't permit such a hazardous venture."Your Highness, sometimes risks must be taken. In crucial moments like this, sacrifices are inevitable," Tyrus remarked casually. "Besides, he's just a guard. Why are you so uptight about it?" "I said it's not happening!" Austin almost shouted.A formidable wave of intimidation surged, prompting Tyrus to step back in shock. It wasn't just Tyrus. Everyone looked at each other and was baffled. No one anticipated such a strong reaction from Austin.Seemingly aware that
In the castle's side hall, the Southern Four Sovereigns sat in a row, quietly waiting. Each of them bore a different expression, lost in contemplation.Elijah casually sipped his coffee, Lincon rested with closed eyes, Tyrus observed the hall's arrangement, and Wyatt paced impatiently. After some time passed, Eloise entered the hall with Austin and Jaxon, carrying an exquisite purple rosewood box."Gentlemen, the Marshal's military insignia has arrived," she announced and delicately placed the rosewood box on the table. Upon unveiling its contents, it revealed a striking golden tiger token.The meticulously crafted tiger token emanated a regal and imposing presence. Adorning its surface in resplendent gold were the words: "Symbol of Armor, with the Prince on the left and Lucozia on the right.""Indeed, it's the Marshal's military insignia!" Wyatt exclaimed, his eyes lighting up. He added, "With this insignia, we can command the Black Dragon Army. Julius's scheme will crumble wi
Lincon was the first to react. "Quick! Go after the military insignia!" he shouted. Eloise immediately commanded, "Go after it!"Jaxon drew his sword abruptly. He led a squad of Draken Guardians in the direction where Elijah disappeared, racing after him."How could this happen?" Austin was bewildered, standing frozen, unsure of what to do. He hadn't expected Elijah to snatch the military insignia, so he was completely unprepared. By the time he realized it, Elijah had already made a swift escape."Your Highness, Elijah is likely working for Julius," Lincon explained with a grave tone. He added, "His unwavering support for you and helping the castle maintain order was just a ploy to make you drop your guard. When the time was right, he'd seize the military insignia and push us into a corner.""Damn it! I never thought Elijah would be a traitor. How despicable!" Wyatt fumed."No wonder he kept suggesting using the military insignia to control the Black Dragon Army against Jul
"What? Abandon West Lucozia? That's like handing the throne to Julius!" Austin's expression turned grim."As long as we're alive, there's still a chance. We need to stay resilient. There are opportunities, and we must not lose hope," Lincon said with heartfelt sincerity."The throne is stolen, the military insignia is taken, and 50 thousand Black Dragon Army soldiers are all following Julius' orders. In this situation, where do we have a chance?" Tyrus shook his head.If he had known it would come to this, he wouldn't have been so greedy by forming an alliance through marriage with the Rhys family. Now, he didn't gain any advantage and only managed to entangle himself in a difficult situation."I think Sir Blaze is right. We must prepare for the worst in case of unforeseen events." Eloise nodded.Though reluctant to admit it, the current situation was highly unfavorable for them. If the military insignia truly fell into Julius's hands, they would lose any chance of turning the t
It appeared to be a desperate move, a gambit that Austin and the others unwittingly fell into. Julius not only tracked their every movement but also discerned their intentions from the beginning. Unwittingly, they stumbled into Julius's trap, with all their actions unfolding exactly as he had anticipated. Julius's foresight allowed him to set up this intricate trap, enticing them unsuspectingly and maneuvering them into a precarious position. The ultimate goal was to seize the military insignia.Moreover, Austin and the others' actions led the wolf to the door, falling victim to Julius's scheme and resulting in the loss of the military insignia. Admittedly, achieving the esteemed rank of Grand General Rhys in West Lucozia was truly an exceptional accomplishment. However, in the intricate game of strategy, they proved to be inexperienced.Time passed quickly, and dawn arrived. After a night of cleaning, the bodies in front of the castle gates were cleared. However, the bloodst
"What? The Black Dragon Army sealed the city? How did this happen so quickly?" Tyrus's face changed. He nearly jumped out of his seat. They thought they could delay for a few days. But overnight, Julius had already brought his army to their doorstep. The efficiency was terrifyingly fast."Quick! Assemble the troops immediately, prepare to escort Her Highness and His Highness out of the city!" Wyatt shouted."It's too late. The Black Dragon Army has already sealed the city. We can't escape." Eloise shook her head, her expression grim. Despite being mentally prepared, facing this was still hard to accept."We have to try. We can't just sit and wait for our demise." Wyatt urged anxiously."It's futile." She shook her head again. She added, "With the military insignia in Julius's hands, our fate is sealed. Instead of scurrying around like mice, it's better to face it head-on, at least with some dignity.""Your Highness—"Wyatt was about to say more but was interrupted by Eloise.
Arion's sudden appearance caught everyone off guard. They stared, wide-eyed and slack-jawed. What was going on? Wasn't Arion already dead? How could he be standing there in front of them? Could it be a ghost?They exchanged baffled looks, and their faces were filled with disbelief. They couldn't make sense of it. How could Arion possibly be alive? It was beyond their comprehension."You… you're not dead?" No one was more shocked than Willem. After all his effort, he had finally found the chance to bite into Arion's neck and drain every drop of his blood.He was certain Arion had died—there was no way he could have survived. But if Arion was dead, who was this person standing before them?"Everyone, calm down!" Bailey spoke up. "Arion's body is still over there. This person must be an imposter."At his words, everyone turned to look at the corpse lying nearby.Bailey was right. The body was still there, and there was no way Arion could still be alive. So, the person in front o
As the Snow Maiden attacked, Batuul's illusory Elephantine stirred into action. With a mighty roar, it charged forward and slammed into Arion. Its tusks, sharp as spears, aimed directly at his chest.Caught in the swirling snow, Arion couldn't avoid the attack and quickly invoked the Glow Incantation to shield himself. The tusks collided with the barrier in a deafening crash. The impact sent Arion flying, and the golden light surrounding him shattered like glass. Clearly, the illusory Elephantine's strength had far exceeded the Glow Incantation's limits.As Arion was tossed into the air, the three-headed, six-armed Chimera Wrath seized its moment. With six different weapons in hand, it launched a relentless assault.Arion swung his sword to block but was driven further back with each blow. With no solid footing in midair, his agility was useless against the onslaught.After several exchanges, one of the Chimera's weapons struck Arion squarely in the chest, sending him crashing to
After a prolonged battle, Anthony and the others finally realized the gravity of the situation.Arion wasn't just a sword master but also had unpredictable agility. No matter how they attacked, they couldn't even land a single hit. On top of that, his sword was a constant threat.If this deadlock continued, the situation would only worsen. So, when Bailey spoke, they knew it was time for decisive action, and there was no turning back. It was either kill or be killed.At that moment, Anthony, who had been holding back, finally decided to use his ultimate technique. He bit his finger and smeared the blood across his blade. His lips moved quickly as if whispering an incantation."Snow Maiden, arise!" As soon as the words left his mouth, he swung his sword. A white figure shot out and hovered in the air. It was a woman with fair skin and mesmerizing beauty. Her long hair cascaded like a waterfall, her dress was as white as snow, and her eyes had a sinister gleam.The moment she appe
"How many tricks does this old geezer have?"The impact of the divine talisman explosion left everyone both shocked and enraged. No one had expected that Arion would still manage to unleash such a powerful supreme divine power even after the Glow Incantation was broken and the lightning strikes failed to cause any harm.The impact of the thousands of divine talismans exploding at once was terrifying. Only the strongest fighters—Willem, Bailey, and Batuul—could withstand it. The rest of the group was severely injured. At that moment, they finally realized the terrifying strength of Dragonmarsh's strongest man."Impressive," Willem said, landing smoothly after being thrown back. His withered skin was now covered in cracks, and blood oozed from it.Most of the shockwave from the explosion had hit him directly. Despite his impressive defense, he still took some damage. However, these injuries were nothing to him. His wounds had already healed within a few seconds, as if nothing had hap
Willem's wings, black as night with a metallic sheen, erupted from his back. Fully extended, they stretched over 30 feet. With a gentle flap, a storm of wind and eerie howls swept through the air. The sheer force was intimidating to behold.His appearance had also undergone a drastic transformation. Willem's once-handsome face was now gaunt, his skin wrinkled, and his cheekbones jutted out. Fangs protruded from his mouth, and two sharp horns sprouted from his head. He had grown taller, but his body was unnaturally thin, with his ribs and sternum visible beneath his skin. From a distance, he looked like a towering, monstrous skeleton. It was an unsettling sight that sent a chill down anyone's spine.This was Willem's ultimate form. After the transformation, his speed, strength, defense, and reflexes were greatly enhanced. His thirst for blood grew even more intense, turning him into a bloodthirsty demon.The gods, who had expressed dissatisfaction moments ago, now stood paralyzed
Willem was so fast that, even to a grandmaster, it would appear as though he had teleported, leaving no time to react.Bailey had already drawn Arion's full attention, making Willem's sudden attack almost impossible to counter.When everyone thought his attack was about to succeed, a red divine talisman suddenly shot out and stuck to his forehead just as his fangs were mere inches from Arion's neck.The talisman exploded, releasing a surge of violent energy that blasted Willem over ten yards away. Before he hit the ground, a blazing fireball instantly engulfed him.He screamed as he turned into a human torch. The fire burned fiercely, scorching his flesh and charring his body.The flames clung to him like a curse and were impossible to put out. His blood energy crackled and hissed as the fire burned, and thick black smoke rose from his body.The sight shocked everyone.Just moments ago, Willem had almost succeeded in his ambush, but Arion had been prepared. With a single talisma
Thousands of golden whips lashed out with the force of a storm, and it was impossible to dodge.The group led by Bailey launched their attacks to block and continually struck the golden whips. With each collision, energy erupted, followed by loud booming sounds.Arion stood firm like a mountain. His body was enveloped in golden light as he swung his whips. Even though he was outnumbered, he still held the advantage.Bailey and the others couldn't break through at all. A few slightly weaker gods from the Hall of Gods were forced to retreat with each lash and struggled to withstand the onslaught.At that moment, everyone finally realized the terrifying power of Dragonmarsh's strongest martial artist. Even the attacks evolved from the Glow Incantation were enough to throw them off balance."I don't believe these things can stop me!"Bailey roared as his body began to change. His already large frame grew even bulkier, like a small mountain. His shirt tore as his muscles expanded, and
The sudden turn of events took everyone by surprise. No one had expected Arion to strike so suddenly; he was so fast that they couldn't even see his movement.Even Willem, renowned for his speed, couldn't react in time. One slap had sent him flying—simple, brutal, and unstoppable.At that moment, they finally realized that the seemingly harmless Arion was much more formidable than they had imagined.Willem staggered to his feet and reached up to straighten his twisted neck. His collapsed cheek began to heal at a visible rate. Fortunately for him, vampires possessed extraordinary regenerative abilities. Without it, the slap would have crippled him."You're strong for an old geezer, but it'll take more than that to finish me off," Willem hissed through clenched teeth. The bloodthirst in his eyes was unmistakable as he glared at Arion. If he could drain Arion's blood, his strength would surge to unimaginable heights."Oh? This is interesting." Arion raised an eyebrow with a faint smi
The battle between the Hall of Gods and Sacred Wrym Summit raged with unrelenting intensity. The Hall of Gods had made meticulous preparations for this invasion. Besides recruiting powerful martial artists from around the world, they also distributed valuable enhanced serums to everyone. To counter Sacred Wrym Summit's Stormcraft technique, they developed a special combat suit capable of resisting such attacks. Generally, a divine martial artist struck by Stormcraft would instantly lose their combat ability, but this special suit reduced the effectiveness of the attack by half. Even if struck, they could recover after a brief moment to continue fighting. The defensive capabilities of this gear were nearly flawless.In addition, their greatest strength was the sheer weight of their numbers. They had at least ten thousand people, including hired outlaws, under their command. During the siege, they were densely packed like a swarm of bees.In contrast, Sacred Wrym Summit had only